A friend of mine who is studying Islam asked me this question. If there is a God then how come there is so much bloodshed, war, poverty, murder, rape, child abuse and many other social injustices in the world and why doesn’t God do anything about it? It would be appreciated if you could please give a detailed answer.
The reason for this is very apprent and is found in the Qur’aan. Allah Ta’
ala says in the Qur’aan ‘Corruption has spread on earth because of the
actions of man, due to the wrongdoings of the wrong doers or the disbelief
of the disbelievers.’ If a student is punished for violating a law of the
institute, what will be our reaction? We will say simply say ‘The student is
deserving of the punishment’. So when man violates the divine law of the
institute of Allah, then why do we question, ‘Is there a God’. Yes, there is
God and He is the One that has brought this condition unto man because of
his misdeeds.
The second reason is, when this affliction comes unto those who are god
fearing, then this will be a means of reward for them if they are patient at
such a time. ‘Does man think that he will be left alone if he merely says, I
am a believer and he will not be tested.’ Most definitely, Allah will test
him. Allah Ta’ala says, ‘Allah will most definitely test you with fear,
hunger, loss of wealth, loss of lives and loss of crop. Glad tidings to
those that are patient.’ This is a disguised blessing of Allah. When the
surgeon puts that blade on the body of the patient, even then it would
outwardly look like mutilation or oppression, but it is the good of the
patient that the surgeon has in his mind.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai